1. A scraping or grinding material: Natalie was told that sandpaper, or some other abrasive, would be needed to remove the old paint.
2. A substance used for rubbing or polishing: The cabinetmaker recommended an abrasive that used only natural materials for application on the wooden furniture.

When Glenda went to the store, she noticed that there were at least three kinds of abrasives from which to choose for her home improvement project.